Iran Specified Entities
On 4 August 2010, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade specified 150 Iranian entities with which it is prohibited to do business without authorisation.
The Specified Entities List may be downloaded here:
Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions - Iran) (Specified Entities) List 2010
This implements Australia's obligation in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1929 to require persons within Australia's jurisdiction to exercise vigilance when doing business with Iran. The purpose of such vigilance is to ensure the business does not contribute to Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities, or the development by Iran of nuclear weapon delivery systems, or a violation by Iran of its obligations under successive UNSC resolutions (Iran's prohibited activities).
The Minister has specified these entities, either because they have links to Iran's prohibited activities, or because they operate in sectors of Iran's economy that the UNSC has identified as having the potential to contribute to Iran's prohibited activities, namely:
- entities linked to Iran's nuclear and missile programs;
- entities associated with the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC);
- transportation sector entities, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL);
- financial sector entities; and
- energy sector (including oil and gas) entities.
Regulation 17E of the Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Iran) Regulations 2008 (the Iran Regulations) prohibits conducting business with a specified entity without the prior written authorisation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Regulation 17F of the Iran Regulations provides that the Minister for Foreign Affairs may authorise conducting business with a specified entity, but not where he has reasonable grounds to believe that the business may contribute to Iran's prohibited activities.
If you are currently conducting business, or considering conducting business, with an entity in Iran, you should urgently determine whether that entity:
- is included on the Specified Entities List; or
- is acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, such an entity; or
- is owned or controlled by such an entity.
If you are already conducting business with an entity on the Specified Entities List:
- you must apply for authorisation by Friday 3 September 2010 to continue carrying on that business.
- when your application for authorisation is received, you will immediately be issued a provisional license to carry on the business while a final authorisation is being considered.
- if your business will conclude or otherwise terminate before that date, you do not need to apply for authorisation.
If you wish to begin conducting business with an entity on the Specified Entities List:
- you must apply for authorisation prior to commencing conducting that business.
- you must apply for authorisation even if the business will be concluded before Friday 3 September 2010.
Applying for authorisation to conduct business with an entity on the Specified Entities List
To apply for authorisation to conduct, or to continue conducting, business with an entity on the Specified Entities List, you must submit an application online using DFAT's UN Sanctions Permit Management System (UNSPMS). A User Guide for the UNSPMS is available on the UNSPMS login site.